Planning after Brexit: the first steps charities should take

Immediate steps charities can take

 

While further details are still to emerge around what’s next for Brexit, there are a number of immediate steps charities need to consider around their operations, staff, and work to support disadvantaged communities.

 

A good start is to look at the government’s transition website, which features a Brexit checker tool. This gives charities a tailored ‘traffic light’ style system of action they may need to take.

 

 

Travelling and working in the EU

 

An immediate change for charities to consider is staff travel arrangements to the EU. Under the new arrangements extra checks are in place. These include ensuring passports have at least six months left before they expire. In addition, those staying in an EU country for more than 90 days need to check each member state’s entry terms.

 

Travel time to the EU may also be longer, as UK citizens will not be able to use fast-track customs and passport control lanes. Some travel specifics haven’t changed, though, such as being able to use a UK driving licence in the EU.

 

Another key change is around working in the EU. From 1 January 2021, UK citizens no longer have an automatic right to live or work in EU member states. UK charity workers who moved to an EU member state before the end of 2020 can carry on working there, but only if they register as a resident in the country they live in by the end of June 2021.

 

The new arrangements are inevitably more complicated than when the UK was in the EU and the specific details and application will become clearer as time passes. But the arrangements do present some positive opportunities for charities, including the development of remote working tools, such as video conferencing, social media tools, and collaboration software and apps.

 

This will ensure UK charities stay in close contact with EU-based colleagues and it will also help to minimise travel, which is especially important in 2021 when adhering to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and in the long-term it will be helpful for the environment.

 

 

Homelessness risks

 

Charities should ensure that EU nationals in the UK apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which is necessary for them to continue living and working here. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2021. Meeting the deadline is especially important for charities supporting vulnerable communities from the EU living in the UK, as well as those employing EU nationals.

 

EU beneficiaries could miss out on vital support and even be at risk of homelessness, the charities Centrepoint and AIRE Centre have warned. Both charities are offering digital support for EU nationals includes video and telephone appointments.

 

 

Turing Scheme replaces Erasmus+

 

Charities supporting disadvantaged young people are advised to start checking the Department for Education website for details of a planned £100m Turing Scheme, which will be set up to help students planning to work or study abroad.

 

The Turing Scheme replaces the Erasmus+ study programme and will target students from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are clear opportunities here for charities looking to support vulnerable young people.